Publisher gives 26,000 books to schools

THOUSANDS of primary pupils are to get a boost to their enjoyment of reading thanks to a €185,000 gift from a Cork publishing firm.

In a sign that many sectors of Irish business are managing to avoid the recession’s worst bruising, Mercier Press is donating 26,000 books to the country’s primary schools.

The stories are all by Irish authors, including Paul Bradshaw, Tom McCaughren, Tony Hickey and Yvonne MacGrory. They are aimed at children aged between seven and 11.